Love Your Neighbor As Yourself by Ann Elaine Broughton

“And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10: 27 NIV).

    Jesus told a lawyer this when he asked Jesus how he could inherit eternal life. I believe out of all of the above loving your neighbor as yourself is the most difficult. Let’s face it. Our neighbors aren’t always polite, kind, and loving. So how do your respond to your neighbors who are not so friendly? Do you love those who treat you badly? Jesus was pretty adamant about the fact that we are to love our enemies and to bless those who curse us. (Luke 6:27-29) Kind of hard isn’t it? Jesus' answer is pretty cut and dry and should be followed. You are to love your neighbor as yourself no matter what. But you see if you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength and mind then you will want to please Him by showing others His love.

    After Jesus tells the lawyer to love his neighbor, he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus proceeded to tell the man about the Good Samaritan. The Samaritan was the only man to show mercy to a man who was beaten and robbed. Jesus told the lawyer to go and do likewise. Mercy is exactly what Jesus does for us when He forgives us of our sins. Just as He forgives us we are ordered by Him to forgive others and show mercy. It is all about the fact that Jesus died for your neighbor just as He did for you. So it is so very important for you to love everyone just as Jesus said, even those who aren’t easy to love.

They need to know that Jesus is all about mercy and love and the only way they can see it is through your acts of kindnesses. I know that this is very difficult, especially when your neighbor is nasty and cruel, but this is an order from the Lord and something that can not be dismissed by ignoring the situation. Pray and ask God for wisdom and strength to show love to those who do you wrong. You will be blessed by it.

Dear Lord,

We know that you want us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Sometimes that is difficult, but we know that through your strength we can accomplish anything. Help us to show mercy and love to those who are blind to your love.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Love Your Enemies by Ann Elaine Broughton

Love Your Enemies by Ann Elaine Broughton

“Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord (Romans 12:19 NIV).

Has someone done something wrong to you? Are you desiring to seek revenge? It is very easy to want harm to come to those who have treated you wrongly, but Jesus said we are to love our enemies.
That is very hard to do, but if Jesus could forgive those who brutally hurt him when he was crucified, we too can forgive those who treat us badly.
There have been times in my life when others have hurt me deeply and I was tempted to really want to get even. I believe it is the nature of all of us to say, “That isn’t fair”. It doesn’t solve anything though to counteract with nastiness to those who treat us unfairly, and let’s face it, life isn’t fair at all. You can expect to have someone wrong you in this life. How you behave at this time will show if you truly are a child of God. You see Christians are to act differently when they are wronged.
Jesus put it this way: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven” (Matthew 5:44 NIV) This is difficult to do, but it isn’t impossible or Jesus wouldn’t have told you to do it. Remember you have the power of the Holy Spirit in you to help you love those who wrong you. Rely on that power and you will be able to do this very thing that seems impossible.
Pray for those who are your enemies and find out that your heart will be changed towards them. I feel sorry for those who are constantly causing trouble. I believe that people who are nasty need our prayers desperately. I can’t imagine going through life always seeing negative in everything. Let your light shine in their lives so that they will see Christ’s love in you. They will wonder at your attitude and might ask you why you are different. That is your chance to show them how the peace of Christ can change their lives. Think of someone this week who needs to have an attitude adjustment and pray for them.
Dear Lord,
Help me to view everyone, even my enemies, through your loving eyes. Help me to be positive around them and not seek revenge. Give me an opportunity to share your love with them.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen